Blewitt to front commission over AWU fund

AN Australian Workers Union figure linked to the slush fund scandal that dogged former prime minister Julia Gillard will give evidence at a royal commission hearing next week.

Ralph Blewitt will be the first witness to appear at the Heydon royal commission, when he fronts a hearing in Sydney on Monday.

Blewitt, along with another AWU official Bruce Wilson, set up the AWU Workplace Reform Association, which was then allegedly put to a range of personal uses.

Working as a Slater & Gordon lawyer in the early 1990s, Ms Gillard provided free legal advice to Blewitt and Wilson, her then boyfriend, to set up the association.

But the former Labor leader has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Blewitt will fly in from his home in Malaysia especially for the hearing.

The Abbott government set up the royal commission earlier this year, saying it was needed to "shine a big spotlight" on union corruption.

Wilson told ABC TV's 7.30 program in late 2012 he did not personally benefit from any money in the association's account, comprised mainly of donations from building companies to support its workplace safety mandate.

Wilson said Blewitt was the only signatory to the account, had withdrawn money and, astonishingly, had buried packages of cash in his Melbourne backyard.

In a separate interview, Blewitt said he did not benefit and claimed Wilson was the "mastermind of the slush fund", requesting cash withdrawals often in amounts of $5000 at a time.

Blewitt has given a statement to Victorian police and requested immunity from prosecution.

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